Hyundai Motor Union to Hold Partial Walkout

The labor union of Hyundai Motor, South Korea's top automaker, will begin a two-day partial strike Wednesday in protest against the resumption of U.S. beef imports.

About 44,000 Hyundai Motor workers are expected to lay down their tools for two hours Wednesday and Thursday to join the protests organized by the Korean Metal Workers' Union.

"Our strike is legitimate because it was approved by union members," Chang Kyu-ho, a union spokesman at Hyundai Motor, was quoted as saying by Yonhap News.

On Sunday, the Korean Metal Workers' Union, which is coordinating the work stoppage, said 76 percent of its members supported the industrial action. The umbrella labor group includes auto industry unions.

In another sign of renewed labor trouble, the union of Hyundai Motor said it would not work overtime until the company sits down for wage talks with the umbrella union.

Hyundai Motor wants to hold wage talks directly with its union, but the union is demanding the management negotiate with the metal workers' union.

Meanwhile, workers at Kia Motors, Hyundai Motor's affiliate, GM Daewoo Auto & Technology and Ssangyong Motor will join the two-day partial walkout.